JOINT STATEMENTADOPTED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THETHIRD TRILATERAL SUMMIT HELD IN ANKARAAMONG THE PRESIDENTS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

Within the framework of the trilateral Ankara Process, initiated on 30 April 2007, and with a view to continuing and enhancing the trilateral cooperation and solidarity among the three brotherly countries, His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited Ankara on 01 April 2009 on the invitation of His Excellency Abdullah Gül, the President of the Republic of Turkey

The three Presidents, together with His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, held cordial and fruitful talks. They, with reference to the Ankara Declaration of 30 April 2007, the Joint Press Release of the Joint Working Group of 6 July 2007, the Joint Declaration of 30 October 2008, and the Joint Statement of 5 December 2008, manifested the need for closer coordination and consultation among the three brotherly countries, at a time when significant developments have been taking place and initiatives are being launched that can have an impact on the efforts to promote security, stability, peace, and economic development in the region.

During the discussions, the three Presidents, who were also accompanied by the Chiefs of General Staff and Army Staff as well as highest intelligence officials of their countries, covered trilateral, regional and international issues of common interest, particularly from a security and stability perspective, including with a view to addressing terrorism. The three Ministers of Foreign Affairs also held a separate meeting.

Mindful of the importance of coordination and cooperation in security matters between political, military and intelligence authorities at the regional level, the three countries have decided to continue trilateral contacts between their above mentioned authorities at different levels in functional and plenary formats as a structured process.

In this vein, apart from the annual Trilateral Summit meetings, the three Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet once a year with the participation of the military and intelligence officials of the three countries, the Joint Working Group will meet twice a year to follow-up the implementation of Summit level decisions and will also prepare the Summit and Ministerial meetings.

The three Presidents decided to expand and strengthen the trilateral cooperation among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey, committing all their relevant institutions.

Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan, requested the Turkish President to organize in Turkey a regional summit that would underline their political will to enhance cooperation on regional issues.